I'm a Film Commissioner, Long Island International Film Expo Director, novelist, freelancer, ghost writer, casting director and producer. I don't know what lies ahead, but I'm sure it will be fun! Take my hand; join me on my journey.
"With regard to jobs and locations postings; Although I've worked with many of these people/companies before - please be advised that you contact them at your own risk and need to vet them for yourself. Caveat Emptor."

Thursday, October 13, 2011

The Long Island International Film Expo 2012 is open for submissions! Take advantage of early bird submissions prices, AND to help celebrate our 15th anniversary of LIIFE, we’re offering student discounts and Filmmakers Connection Member discounts!! Can’t go wrong there! Enter now at www.LongIslandFilm.com

The next Filmmakers Connection Meeting will be on Wednesday, October 26 at 7:00 pm in room 303 at Five Towns College (305 North Service Road, Dix Hills, 11746). Speaker Joe Pomarico - 3 time Award Winning Director/Writer of GUS. Recently completed his new short film MY BUTTERFLY. He will be showing both . Joe Pomarico, is a young filmmaker best known for his intense films that capture and magnify the little moments in life that many of us would take for granted or pass without notice. Expanding on these moments draw out the hidden connections between Mr. Pomarico's characters and expose his audience to subtle emotions of a world that otherwise would end up on the cutting room floor in the hands of another filmmaker. Whether it's a pair of eyes bordering on seduction or an awkward handshake, Mr. Pomarico has an appreciation for all levels of human interactions, and his appreciation resounds loudly in his films. He is able to manipulate the tiny gray lines of emotions to such a wonderful extent that the natural conversation and action between characters lead to great thrills for his audience. AND Speaker Ken Wilkinson - Ken Wilkinson co-founded the Plaza Media Arts Center in 2010 and is proud to announce its new location in Patchogue, New York. The Plaza Media Arts Center will open on October 13th and begin screening the best independent films from around the world. They will offer training in the latest media arts including filmmaking, photography and web design. For more information and for tickets visit their website, http://www.plazamac.orgKen is a motion picture sound editor and re-recording mixer. He has contributed to soundtracks for shorts and feature length independent films and for television networks like VH1, Disney Channel and USA Networks.

Filmmakers Panel Discussion!!Last April’s panel discussion at Adelphi University was such a success that we have decided to have another one next year! Our event will take place at Adelphi’s Alumni House on Saturday, April 14th, 2012 from 1:00pm to 2:30pm! The details of the panel discussion have yet to be determined. The date, however, has been locked in so be sure to mark it on your calendars!

If you’re interested in finding out up-to-the-minute information on film jobs that I hear about (both cast and crew) or locations needed for film/tv/commercials, plus other film related information (or my own personal musings), check www.debramarkowitz.blogspot.com You can also sign up for our twitter account below, and I will tweet whenever I have anything film-related of interest. Let’s keep the work here!! If you are a filmmaker/casting person who knows of any positions, I can post those for you as well. Please e-mail me details: Union or nonUnion, personnel needed, whether it’s a paid position, when, where and what. Thank you.

If you had a film in the Long Island International Film Expo and have received a distribution deal (DVD, theatrical, and/or television), please send us a blurb and a link, and we’ll promote it for you on the Long Island International Film Expo facebook site.

If you have a home in Nassau County and would like to list it as a possible location for film/tv/commercial production, please contact debfilm@aol.com or call 516 571-3168.

If you have a business, service, or headshot you would like to bring to the attention of the dedicated audience that visits LongIslandFilm.com – consider placing a banner ad. They are quite reasonable this year, and could easily double in price by next year. If you sign up shortly, you will have your ad shown in random rotation for an entire year. Small banner ads are $150 – (120 x 60 pixels). Large banner ads are $300 (468 x 60 pixels). If interested, please e-mail your banner ad in the appropriate amount of pixels to debfilm@aol.com. Please include the URL you would like your ad to be connected to. You can pay by check to LIFTF, or by PalPay under “The Foundation” and then “Donations.” Just let us know when you send in your banner ad. You can now pay for your membership to the Filmmakers Connection through PayPal on the www.LongIslandFilm.com website. Please be sure to include your name, address, phone #, e-mail address, which area of the film industry you are involved in (ex. Writer/director/producer) and whether or not you are already getting this newsletter by e-mail. Cost is $30 per year fee. If you are a student with current ID, it is $15 to join.)

If you would like to become a member (or renew your membership) of the Filmmakers Connection, please send $30, made out to the LIFTF to the Long Island Film/TV Foundation, c/o Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Avenue, Side Entrance, Bellmore, NY 11710. You may also pay at the meetings. The $30 membership fee entitles you to attend the Filmmakers Connection meetings for free. It also entitles you to discounts on Foundation functions such as the Long Island International Film Expo, the Awards Ceremony party, all mailings and newsletters, and (if all other criteria is met) a chance at winning the $1,000/$500 Finishing Fund Grant. (When you send in your $30, please be sure to include your name, address, phone number, e-mail address and how you are involved with the film industry, i.e. director, producer, voice overs, etc.) and whether you are already getting this newsletter by e-mail. If you are a student with appropriate college/high school ID, the cost is $15 to join for the year. If you do not join, you can still attend meetings for free.

Please be advised that the Foundation/Film Commissions/Film Offices are not responsible for speaker cancellations. Every effort will be taken to insure a speaker’s availability on the date mentioned. In case of a cancellation, every effort will be made to book an alternate speaker.

For information on the Long Island Film/TV Foundation contact Robert Hansen at 516 707-2237. For information about the Long Island International Film Expo, please contact Debra Markowitz at 516 571-3168.

Friday, October 7, 2011

These locations must be in Nassau County.1) For feature film, The Longest Week, they are looking for is a really high-end classy bar: think mad-men, old dark wood or classy french, jacket required, but still uber -hip and bohemian. They have a healthy budget for this one. 2) For television program, The Good Wife, they are looking to film in a Beaux Arts type building that they can PREP, SHOOT and WRAP from 10/17 to 10/21 of this month. Please refer to “Good Wife”Please refer all suggestions to debfilm@aol.com.

For Scott Goldberg Movies – 1) Casting NYC or Queens or Long Island Based Talent for Occupy Wall Street Slow Motion Sequences - need emotional types to protest with passion, some even crying, will slow down the motion and do a very sad and emotional and powerful section for The Three. This is an actors dream - to act in front of thousands of people on Wall Street - looking for homeless types, protestor types and businessmen types.2) Child actors age 12-14 who can be on camera for a few minutes watching television - it's a split screen shot of a reality tv show woman talking about being famous and the girl is watching mindlessly staring at the tv watching with makeup on. It would take ten minutes tops can you ask around - the parents can e-mail me at scottgoldbergmovies@gmail.com. Do let me know of any responses, thanks!These are non-paying acting jobs – please contact Scott Goldberg at scottgoldbergmovies@gmail.com.Thank you!Best,Debbie

Naked in the Rain

About Me

Debra Markowitz is the Director of the Nassau County Film Office. In this capacity, Ms. Markowitz presides over the Nassau County Film Commission, now known as the Nassau County Film Advisory Board, and chairs as its Executive Director.
Ms. Markowitz also serves as Vice President of the Long Island Film/TV Foundation, Long Island’s most established and largest not-for-profit agency dedicated to the support and promotion of independent filmmaking. She also helped found the Long Island International Film Expo (LIIFE).
Debra Markowitz is also a freelance writer and novelist. The third book in her trilogy (following Naked in the Rain and Sarah and Caleb), Karmic Wind is set for release in 2013. For a complete list of her work, please visit her site, www.debramarkowitz.com.
An enthusiastic fellow filmmaker, Ms. Markowitz has acted as Casting Director, consultant, writer and producer on movie, television and commercial projects individually and with CastingKarma.
Debra Markowitz is also an avid yoga practitioner.